Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — If you wondered what helped the turnaround on the defensive side the ball by the end of the season in Hamilton, you’d have to look no further than Larry Dean.
By the end of the 2017 campaign, the Ticats’ run defence was one of the best in the league, allowing 86.1 yards per game. Dean was an integral part of the unit that stopped some of the league’s best running backs as the Tiger-Cats made a late-season push for the playoffs.
“When they (Hamilton) were struggling to find oxygen last season, he was the one stable anchor on defence that consistently made plays,” CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson said.
Dean is the top-ranked linebacker in free agency and fourth overall according to CFL.ca:
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| FA RANKINGS OVR – 4 TEAM – 1 POS — 1 |
2017 BY THE #’S GP – 18 TKL – 96 FF – 3 |
In his second season with the Tiger-Cats, Dean was a staple in the Tabbies defence at middle linebacker. He played in all 18 regular season games and tallied 96 tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles. His tackles (96) led the Tiger-Cats and were fourth in the league behind Solomon Elimimian, Alex Singleton and Kyries Hebert.
That performance helped the 29-year-old earn an East Division All-Star nod.
The 6-foot, 226-pounder joined Hamilton as a free agent in 2016 and suited up in all 18 games that season. He collected 78 tackles, two sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles in his rookie year.
Before coming north of the border, Dean played four seasons with Valdosta State (2007-10), leaving the university holding the school’s record in career tackles with 368, and helped to lead Valdosta to a Division II National Title in 2007. He then signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings where he played three seasons (2011-13) before being released by the club in 2014 and headed to Buffalo to join the Bills.
After signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in 2015, and not playing a game, he was released by the club that fall.
Dean has become one of the league’s top free agents and will be a hot commodity for a team looking for a dependable piece to add to its front seven if he hits the open market.
